Committee hears bill to fund newborn "baby boxes" with $20,000 grants

The Montana House committee heard House Bill 476 on a proposed grant program to help public facilities acquire and maintain newborn “baby boxes,” devices that allow anonymous surrender of infants and trigger an alarm so staff can take immediate custody.

Representative Gregg, sponsor of the measure, told the committee: “I urge you pass.” The bill would set a maximum grant of $20,000 per applicant and designates a $160,000 appropriation from the general fund for the 2025–27 biennium; unused funds would revert June 30, 2027. The bill directs a state department to adopt rules for applications, evaluation and reporting, and requires a program report to the Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee by Sept. 30, 2027.

Supporters said the boxes offer a last-resort, safe alternative for parents in crisis. Representative Sherry Esman, who said she represents House District 49 in Billings, described conversations with local hospitals and where boxes would work best: “They’re most suited for emergency rooms, fire stations, police stations — someplace where there’s a 24-hour attendant because the baby box does rely on an alarm system that lets someone inside know that a baby’s been placed in there.” Esman added that when the alarm sounds, the infant is taken by ambulance to a health facility and turned over to authorities for follow-up.

Katie Mack of the Montana Hospital Association also testified in support, saying hospitals receive the majority of infant relinquishments and that baby boxes can “be life saving” in locations not staffed or resourced for safe relinquishment.

Proponents acknowledged the grant cap will not cover full installation costs in every case. “Dollars $20,000 per facility will not pay for the entire installation in today’s market, but it will be a great step to get some skin in the game,” Esman said.

Committee members did not record a vote during the hearing. Committee staff closed the public hearing and said the item would be placed on the list for executive action at a later time.

Background: witnesses referred to a prior legislative effort that established anonymous surrender by statute and to a separate bill from last session (referred to in testimony as Representative Desmond’s law) that approved other surrender sites. The bill as presented would create a competitive grant program, set the appropriation and reporting requirements described above.